[Golf Topic] 'Major Schedule Confusion'... "Is the PGA Championship in August?"

Brooks Koepka is taking a commemorative photo with his girlfriend Jenna Sims right after winning last year's PGA Championship.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ○…The second major, the PGA Championship (total prize money $11 million), has returned to August.

The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) announced on the 7th (Korean time) that "we are considering holding the PGA Championship on August 6." Originally scheduled to start on May 15, it was indefinitely postponed due to the recent spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. With the first major, the Masters, moved to November 12, the order of the first two majors of the season has changed. The venue remains Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, California, USA.

It is interesting that this tournament was held as the last major in August until 2018. Last year, the schedule was adjusted and moved forward to May. August is not an easy month either. The California state government, the most populous state in the US, maintains a negative stance on holding large-scale sporting events to prevent the spread of COVID-19. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated, "We may not allow National Football League (NFL) games in August."

The June US Open has been moved to September 17, and the July Open has been canceled altogether. The US Open is also facing difficulties. Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, has been closed since March. New York State recently has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the US. The only major outside the US, The Open Championship, will hold this year's tournament at the battleground Royal St George's next year, and the 150th will continue at St Andrews in 2022.